SOLVED UM3: Knocking sound when printing

[pryds 0]

Hi,

 

I just bought a brand new Ultimaker 3 and everything seems good besides an odd knocking sound whenever I'm printing. The sound is only present when I'm printing, not when I move the printing head manually. I have tried to check for loose parts but everything seems tight and it's impossible to locate where the sound comes from.

 

I contacted the shop where I bought the machine but they had never heard anything like this sound before.

 

Here is what it sound like:

http://flipboxx.com/um/vid.mp4

 

Has anyone experienced something like this? Or can an official Ultimaker supports person please give a hand here. I paid a lot of money to be able to print without issues.

 

Thank you.

 

[peggyb 171]

don't worry, it is probably the sound of the z axis, because of the auto levelling. It is gone after a while.

You can check this by touching the z axis when you here it, it makes small turns.

[pryds 0]

I already tried to touch the z screw to feel if it moved while printing, but it does not. And the sound does not disappear after a while, it is audible throughout the entire print.

Edited December 27, 2017 by pryds

[kmanstudios 1,120]

I have heard something like this and never noticed any adverse affects in my prints. Oddly, since this is my first printer, I just assumed that all was ok by not knowing what sounds should be there.

 

Usually though, it can get loud when it is shaking violently when doing a tight infill or something like that.

 

I just started a print and can hear a rhythmic chatter, but I always assumed it was the motors.

[pryds 0]

Do you experience this knocking sound on all your prints?

 

At my office we have an UM2 Extended, and it never made any sounds like that, only the usual humming from the motors.

 

It might not be an issue but I just don't want a short life for my printer if it is.

[ultiarjan 1,223]

Agree with peggy, probably the Z axis autoleveling.

If you find it annoying please know that you can print perfectly without autoleveling.

The mechanical stability of an UM bed is very good, once you manually level the bed you can go for a long time without leveling.

Also if you keep using autoleveling, its useful to make sure you do a good manual leveling first, so there is less need for compensation.

[pryds 0]

After closer inspection the auto levelling does indeed seem to be the cause of the sound! I cannot see that the screw is rotating but when i put a finder on it, i can feel a very tiny vibration each time the sound occurs.

 

Thank you very much all of you!

[Gigi 43]

On 27.12.2017 at 10:48 AM, pryds said:

I already tried to touch the z screw to feel if it moved while printing, but it does not. And the sound does not disappear after a while, it is audible throughout the entire print.

Gently keep the finger on z axis.

When a sound apear you wil feel the axle moving.

Autoleveling feature. You could dissable-it.